The FCC has announced that AT&T has agreed to refund customers who were unfairly pushed from their original pay-as-you-go wireless plans into monthly data contracts.

AT&T began mandating monthly data plans back in 2009, but promised customers already buying wireless data through them on a pay-as-you-go basis that they would be "grandfathered" into the new scheme, ensuring their data rates were kept low. The FCC, however, has spent a year investigating complaints which suggested numerous customers didn't receive such treatment, and instead started paying higher monthly rates.

Turns out the problem came about when customers has replaced their phones—either under warranty or insurance. Now, though, AT&T will refund customers who were unfairly charged up to $30 per month, as well as paying $700,000 to the US Treasury for the trouble it's caused. If you were wronged, you can look forward to a pay out. [FCC via Ars Technica]